Brahim Diaz, born in Malaga, Spain, has become a national icon for Morocco as they chase their second Africa Cup of Nations title this Sunday. The 26-year-old Real Madrid forward, who made one senior appearance for Spain, switched allegiance to Morocco in 2023 and is the top scorer at this year’s AFCON.
Diaz’s mother, Patricia, hails from Malaga, a city shaped by cultural movements. His father, Sufiel, was born in Melilla, a Spanish city on the North African coast, into a Moroccan family. From an early age, Brahim grew up understanding that his identity did not have to be singular.
As a child, Diaz travelled several times to Nador to visit his grandmother and cousins, where he was dressed like any other Moroccan boy. In family photos, he appears next to his grandmother, wearing a traditional Moroccan veil. Brahim has often summed it up simply: “I have always felt 100% Spanish and 100% Moroccan.”
Diaz’s footballing journey began with futsal, shaping his close control, dribbling, and explosive acceleration – skills that remain visible in his game today. He later joined modest Malaga-based teams before catching the eye of Europe’s top clubs.
After rejecting loan moves, Diaz joined Manchester City in 2015, where he was offered a strong foundation. In 2019, he secured a £21 million move to Real Madrid, but his early period in the Spanish capital was disrupted by injuries.
A three-season loan spell at AC Milan proved pivotal, as Diaz delivered important goals, stood out on big European nights, and showed leadership beyond his years. His return to Madrid has been marked by limited playing time, but Diaz accepts it as part of the process, believing his opportunities will come.
Diaz’s goal celebrations, where he lifts his elbows and hands as if saying “See? What looks difficult becomes easy if you work for it,” have become a message of perseverance that began as a private expression of triumph in his youth.
The Moroccan national team have fallen in love with Diaz, whose interest dated back years, even before the 2018 World Cup. After making his debut for Morocco in 2024, Diaz has now scored 13 goals in 21 games, becoming the top scorer at this year’s AFCON.
The team now revolves around Diaz, as Morocco, hosting the tournament in spectacular stadiums with heavy investment, seek their second AFCON title. Fans believe it is written, but Diaz’s form and experience in high-pressure moments will be crucial if Morocco are to end their 50-year wait for glory.
In Morocco, a country deeply immersed in Spanish football culture, Diaz has become a national icon, with his image appearing on billboards, petrol stations, and shirts bearing his iconic number 10. He is also working towards creating a football foundation to leave a lasting legacy.
As Brahim Diaz arrives at the Africa Cup of Nations final as the symbol of a modern and ambitious Morocco, the pressure to deliver the title is immense. But for a player who has lived with such expectations since turning professional, his team-mates know what they have to do: give him the ball.
